Merchandise case having a detachable moisture proof bottom tray



May 22, 1956 H. A. RINGEL ET AL MERCHANDISE CASE HAVING A DETACHABLEMOISTURE PROOF BOTTOM TRAY 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 6, 1952 m Wm Q EO ww N@ Mmm m QQ M l.- NQ A a m D W LK d. 0N RA www smv RN um Y r W Y Blwlu N\ ww l. R NQ www Nm. l NIR, I. 9m,

May 22, 1956 H. A. RINGEL ETAL 2,746,668

MERCHANDISE CASE HAVING A DETACHABLE MOISTURE PROOF BOTTOM TRAY FiledJune 6, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4.

INVENTORS HAROLD A. RINGEL FRANK E. MEYER WWA/M www' ATTORN YS May 22,1956 H. A. RINGEL ETAL 2,746,668

MERCHANDISE CASE HAVING A DETACHABLE MOISTURE PROOF BOTTOM TRAY FiledJune 6, 1952 y 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 geg lm/Exmxs HAROLD A. RINGEL FRANK E.MEYER o m wAmM/Mcmq ATTORNEYS May 22, 1956 H. A. RINGEL. ET AL 2,746,668

MERCHANDISE CASE HAVING A DETACHABLE MOISTURE PROOF BOTTOM TRAY FiledJune 6. 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 HAROLD A. RINGEL FRANK EJMEYER B" Mmmm 4WMM I H. A. RINGEL. ET AL 2,746,668 MERCHANDISE CASE HAVING A DETACHABLEMay 22, 1956 MOISTURE PROOF BOTTOM TRAY 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 6.1952 FIG.I6A.

FIG. IG.

2,6 Aw FIG. ITA.

FIG. I7.

FIG. 24.

May 22, 1955 H. A. RINGEL ETAL 2,746,668

MERCHANDISE CASE HAVING A DETACHABLE MOISTURE RRooF BoTToM TRAY FiledJune 6. 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. I8.

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FIG. I8A.

INVENTORS HAROLD A. RINGEL FRANK E. MEYER BY u.) www# m ATTORNEY l I l ll l l l l which may be of metal, preferably aluminum,

United States Patent v(i) MERCHANDISE CASE HAVING A DETACHABLE MOISTUREPRF BTTOM TRAY Harold A. Ringel and Frank E. Meyer, assignors ofone-fourth to Caesar one-fourth to Elmer D. Flanders,

New rleans, La., H. DAntonio and New Orleans, La.

` This invention appertains to improvements in merchandise cases orcartons of the type primarily used for containing and transporting beerbottles or other merchandise and this application is a Vcontinuation inpart of our pending application, Serial No. 210,059, filed February 8,1951.

The majority of beer cases or similar merchandise cases are now beingconstructed entirely of iberboard or cardboard, and the cases have to beassembled by the user by stitching the various parts, usually threepieces, together to form a complete set up case.

The necessity of installing special machinery and using valuable oorspace to perform the operation of setting up for use such cases, isundesirable on the part of the user.

Additionally, all the berboard or cardboard cases absorb moistureparticularly on their bottoms, and as a consequence lose theirstructural strength and have to be discarded at considerable expense.The bottoms of such cases collect a certain percentage of moisture, sothat they do not support the walls of the case and consequently, thecases tend to be lopsided and when the cases are stacked up in tiersthey have a tendency to lean over and fall. The defects of the cardboardbottom construction of present day cases also affect the conveyorsystems in breweries, since the bottoms, after they have become wet frombeer and from dampness, pick up grit and other particles from floors andin going over the conveyor belts the particles fall into the conveyorsystem and necessitate constant cleanage. Furthermore, the bottoms havea tendency to tear off and jam the conveyor belt and the corners get outof shape and have rough edges which also jam the conveyor system.

The primary object of this invention is to fortify the berboard orcardboard case construction by providing a detachable moistureproof andnon-absorbent bottom tray plastic or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide in combination with acardboard case body and a separate, detachable water repellant bottomtray, a locking arrangement between the body and the bottom tray, whicharrangement is so constructed that no tools or equipment are needed tosecurely attach the body to the bottom tray and one man can easily setup the case at the time when it is to be loaded with bottles.

A further object of this invention is to provide locking means forsecurely locking a case body of absorbent material possessing someresiliency to a non-absorbent metal bottom tray, the locking meanscomprising an external protrusion on the case body and a hook element onthe tray with the protrusion responding to horizontal and verticalstresses in automatically engaging the hook element.

Another object of this invention is to provide a locking device betweenthe body and an upstauding flange on the tray, the arrangement beingsuch that the device becomes locked when the tray with the bodyfrictionally 2,746,668 Patented May' 22, 1956 seated within the flangeis impacted, beaten or struck on a hard surface, such as a concretefloor.

A further object of this invention is to provide a detachable bottominsert of cardboard, I'iberboard or other material which is inserted inthe body to perform the operation of locking the body of the case to theseparate bottom in addition to restrain the locking means againstaccidental dislodgment and opening.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of one of the types of blank outs of whichthe case body can be formed;

Figure 1' is a cross-section taken on line 18-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the body of the case, with the coversections open and certain parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the case body and bottomtray, illustrating the manner of initially inserting the body in thebottom tray;

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the erected and completed cas with thebottom tray attached;

Figure 5 is a plan view of one type of insert that can be used for thepurpose of locking and restraining the body into the separate traybottom;

Figures 6 through 9 are vertical sectional views taken through the lowerportion of the body and one side of the tray illustrating theinterlocked construction in various stages of erection of the case whenthe type of insert shown in Figure 5 is used;

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view of the assembled case body andtray;

Figure 1l is a section taken on line 11-11 ure 2;

Figure 12 is a modified form of the struction;

Figures 13 and 14 are diagrammatic views of the body entering the bottomtray and locked within the tray;

Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view of a modified lockingarrangement;

Figure 16 is a plan view of another form of insert;

Figure 16a is an end elevational View thereof;

Figure 17 is a plan View of a further form of bottom insert;

Figure 17a is an end elevational view thereof;

Figure 18 is a plan View of one side wall of a body blank showing analternative method of forming the locking strips and illustratinganother form of locking strip;

Figure 18a is a fragmentary plan View of the blank out of which thelocking strip is formed;

Figure 19 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 19-19 of Figure 18;

Figures 20 through 24 are vertical sectional views taken through thelower portion of the body at one side of the tray illustrating theinterlocked construction in various stages of erection of the case, whenthe type of insert shown in Figure 16 or 17 is used in connection withthe type of body construction and locking strip shown in Figures 18-19;and,

Figure 25 is a fragmentary perspective View of the locking strip ofFigure 6, illustrating double score lines in the heel.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 showsa form of blank stamped or pressed from appropriate stock material, forinstance fiberboard or cardboard. Such material will be sturdy and ofappropriate stiffness but will preferably possess some resiliency.

The blank includes a pair of side walls 10 and 12, outer end walls 14and 16 respectively adjoining the side walls 1t) and 12 and separatedtherefrom by appropriate fold or score lines on which the walls may bebent in erecting the blank into the rectangular carton or case body 18.

of Figinterlocking con- The outer end wall 14 is associated with aninner end wall or flap 20 and the opposite outer end wall 16 is alsoassociated with an inner end wall or llap 22, the inner walls or flaps20 and 22 being shown in Figure l as extending in the blank above theirrespective outer end walls 14 and 16.

Top r cover sections 24 and 26 of identical configurar tion extendrespectively above the side walls and 12 and are separated therefrom byhorizontal fold or score lines 28, on which the top or cover sections 24and 26 hinge and are folded. The top or cover sections 24 and 26 aresevered from the inner end walls or aps and 22 which are ofsubstantially the same dimensions as the outer walls 14 and 16.

lFlanges 28 and 30 are formed on the upper edges of the respective coversections 24 and 26 as extensions or prolongations thereof and areadapted to be folded over upon the crease or score lines 32. The sidewall 12 is formed on its outer edge with a lateral extension or lap 34which in the assembled carton is underlapped with the free edge of theouter end wall 14 and stitched thereto by the stitching 36, as seen inFigure 2.

The flanges 28 and 30, which constitute locking means for the coversections 24 and 26 and are turned downwardly into the interior of thebox about the fold lines 32 when the cover sections are closed, areformed with tongues 38, 40, 42 and 44 at opposite ends. The tongues areset inwardly from the lateral edges of the cover sections 24 and 2,6 andare disposed inwardly from the free outer edges of the flanges 28 and30. The tongues are separated from the adjacent inner edges of theflanges 28 and by slots 46, 48, 50 and 52.

Narrow top walls 54 and 56 are produced between the inner and outer endwalls by separated, parallel crease or score lines S8 and 60 between theouter and inner end walls 14, 20 and 16, 22 respectively,

Slots 62 and 64, which are designed to receive the tongues on thelocking flanges 28 and 30 are made through these narrow top walls 54 and56 substantially centrally thereof. The inner end walls or llaps 20 and22 are formed with axial slots 66 and 68, which communicate with theslots 62 and 64 at their enlarged ends. The slots 62 and 64 arepreferably longer than the combined thickness of the two tongues 38, 44and 40, 42 which enter the same, but the slots 66 and 68 are preferablyof substantially the thickness of the two flanges 28 and 30, which arereceived into such slots 66 and 68. The top slots 62 and 64 arepreferably longer than the lengths of the tongues to give sulcientclearance so that the tongues may enter the slots on the descendingmovement of the cover sections 24 and 26 irrespective of whether thetongues are presented llatwise or edgewise to such top slots 62 and 64.Beveled edges 70 and 72 are provided between the top slots 62, 64 andthe communicating sidc slots 66, 68 in order to better guide thematerial of the anges 28 and 29 into these narrower side slots 66 and68. The slots 46, 48 and 50, 52 of the ilanges 2,8 and 30 cooperate withthe side slots 66 and 68 to intert together with the tongues 38, 40, 42and 44 lying in the space between the end walls 14, 20, 16, 22 with theside edges of such tongues engaging the end walls so as to stabilize theanges 28 and 30 and the cover sections 24 and 26 against movementlongitudinally of the case, as will be apparent from a consideration ofFigure 2.

In the end walls 14, 20, 16 and 22 are provided elongated hand holes 74,76, 78 and 80, all of which are the same size or area. However, theholes may be of diifer ent Sizes or areas. The holes 76 and 78 in theinner end walls 20 and 22 register or align with the hand holes 74 and78 in the outer end walls, when the inner end walls are brought aboutthe fold lines S8 and 60 into superimposed relation with the outer endwalls 14 and 16. The hand holes are formed by punching out elongatedsections 82 from the inner end walls and similar sections 84 from theouter end walls. The sections are not completely severed from the innerand outer end walls but the section 82 is joined to the end wall by afold line 86 and is bent down and stitched as at 88 to the end wall. Thesection Si) is similarly severed from the outer end wall 16 and from theend wall 14 and is bent up about the fold line 90 and stitched as at 92.Thus, when the inner walls are folded into the interior of the erectedbox and the hand holes are in registry, the sections 78 and 80 will bein engagement and serve to reinforce the hand holes, since the sectionswill be above the hand holes.

The blank of Figure l is also preferably provided with cut-outs 94, 96,98, and 102, the cut-outs 94 and 102 mating together when the extension34 is underlapped and stitched to the end wall 14. The cut-outs areformed in the upper corners of the box and facilitate bending of thevarious walls in order to make square corners.

At the score or crease lines separating the walls of the case andlocated at the lower edges of the walls, cut-outs 104, 106, 108, and 112are formed. The cut-outs 104 and 112 mate when the extension 34 isstitched to the end wall 14. The cut-outs are provided to facilitatebending of the various walls in order to make square corners, similar tothe function of the cut-outs 94, 96, 98, 100, 102. Additionally, thecut-outs define flexing or folding edges on the walls. The folding orflexing edge 114 is formed on the end wall 14, the side wall 10 beingformed with a similar edge 116 and the end wall 16 being provided with asimilar edge 118, while the side wall 12 has a similar edge 120.

The edges 114, 116, 118 and 120 have locking strips 122, 124, 126 and128 stitched thereto, as seen in Figures l and 2.

In Figure l, the locking strips 126 and 128 are shown in initial stampedout condition before assembling the strips to the body blank and beforefolding or forming the strips while the strips 122 and 124 are shown inassembled and attached condition. With reference to the locking strip128, it will be noted that the same consists of an elongated section ofliberboard or other material, similar to the material of the case body18, and includes three hingedly connected sections 130, 132 and 134respectively. The sections 130 and 132 are identically shaped andcoextensive in width and length and are disposed in side-by-siderelation and joined by a double crease or fold line 136. The ends 138 ofthe sections are beveled, so that the joined ends of the sections form apoint. The section 134 is rectangular and joined to the section 132along a crease or fold line 140. In assembling the locking strip, thesection 134 is folded on the crease line 140 over onto the section 132and stitched to the end of the side wall 12.

As seen more particularly in Figure ls, for example, the section 134 isfolded inwardly onto the inner face of the section 132 and securedthereto by stitching 142, which stitching also joins the folded sectionsto the lower edge 116 of the side wall 10. The section 132 forms the legof the locking strip and serves as an extension of the side wall 10. Thesection 130, which forms the foot of the locking strip, is folded aboutthe connecting crease or hinge line 136 and brought into right angularrelation with the section 132 and with the side wall 10. It will benoted that the double sections lie upon the exteriors of the cartonwalls and that the sections together constitute a locking strip,protuberance or shelf: all around the outside of the carton body 18 atthe lower edges of each wall.

As disclosed more in detail in our copending application and illustratedin Figures 3 and l0 and the series of Figures 6 through 9, the rigidbottom tray 144 comprises a bottom wall 146, having a depressed gutter148 extending about the margin thereof with a shoulder 15,0 formedbetween the bottom wall and the gutter. Arcuate depressions 152 areformed in the bottom wall to support the bottom wall inwardly of itsmarginal edges. the depressions lying in the same plane as the gutter148. An upstanding flange 154 rises from the outer side of the gutterand is integral with the bottom wall 146. The flange terminates at itsupper edge in an inwardly and downwardly turned hook 156. The flange 154is substantially equal in height to the width of the section or leg 132of each of the locking strips and the gutter 148 is substantially thewidth of the foot or section 130 of each of the locking strips, so thatthe double fold line 136 is disposed at the juncture point between theange and the gutter 148. The crease or hinge 140 is rounded exteriorlyto form a locking edge or head 158 complemental to the curvature of thehook 156, the head 158 snugly engaging the locking recess 160 of thehook. The outer edge 162 of the hook is somewhat flattened and forms acam surface upwardly from the bill 164 for a purpose to be described inconnection with the detailed description of the mode of assembling thebottom tray to the carton body.

At the corners of the ange 154 on the bottom tray, it will be noted thatcut-outs 166 are formed in the hook, the cut-outs 166 enabling thecorners of the carton to be properly fitted on the tray and aligningwith the cut-out corners on the lower edges of the case or carton body18. In this respect, it will be noted that the section or leg 132 of thedouble wall or section 168, which forms the locking shelf or strip, hasits ends 128 sloping inwardly away from the corners 166. The lockingstrips 122, 124 and 126 are identically attached to the carton body, sothat the ends of their sections 132 slope inwardly and upwardly from thecorners 166 of the case body.

The method of assembling the bottom tray to the carton body is bestillustrated in Figures 3, 6-10. Figure 3 illustrates the initial step ininserting the erected case body 18 within the confines of therectangular flange 154. One of the end walls, such as the end wall 14 inFigure 3 is positioned forwardly of an assembler, with the tray 154lying flat on a hard surface, such as a work table or a concrete oor ina brewery and with the case body 18 tilted. The locking strip 122 on thelower edge of the end wall constitutes a leading edge, which ispositioned on the bottom of the tray and slid forwardly toward the endportion 170 of the flange 154 with the case body tilted, as shown inFigure 3. This is merely one manner of easily and conveniently lining upthe lower portion of the case body with the bottom tray, so that thecase body can be moved downwardly sliding past the contines of the end162 of the hook 156. Alternatively, the case body 18 could be placed onthe bottom tray, with the rounded underside of the hinge line 136resting on the outer surface 172 of the hook. In the latter instance,the case is then pushed downwardly, until the locking strips reach theposition, with respect to the hook, as illustrated in Figure 6.

Reverting to the first described initial step, the case body 18 isleveled, after the strip 122 contacts the hook on the end portion 170 ofthe flange, so that the case body is pushed downwardly until it reaches,with respect to the flange, the position illustrated in Figure 6.

At such point, the case body is frictionally held within the confines ofthe ange 154 by the bill 164 and end 162 of the hook 156. As seen inFigure 13, the side walls 10 and 12 and the end walls 14 and 16 areflexed inwardly, due to the inherent exibility and resiliency of thefiberboard and cardboard from which the walls are made and due to thesubstantial rigidity of the flange 154 and hook 156, at least withrespect to the greater resiliency of the walls of the case body.

At this point in the operation (Figure 6) the case body 18 has thebottom tray 144 attached to the locking strips on the lower edges of theWalls thereof, so that the case Vbody can be lifted by using the handholes in the end walls 14 and 16 and the bottom tray 144 will adhere tothe case body.

The assembler then strikes or beats, that is impacts, the

bottom tray upon the hard surface, such as a concrete floor, to forcethe case body further into the area dened by the flange 154 and thelocking strips and associated lower flexing edges of the walls of thecase body assume the position illustrated in Figure 6a either after oneor more blows depending upon the force of the impact.

Considering Figure 6a, it will be noted that the ilexing edge of theside wall is extended slightly outwardly from the side wall 12. In thisposition, the leg 132 of the locking strip is bowed outwardly withrespect to the flange 154 and is no longer parallel therewith, as wasthe case in the initial position (Figure 6). The rounded Outer portionof the fold or crease line 136 which forms a heel 157 bears directly onthe gutter 148, while the free side edge of the section 13) is inclinedupwardly and the free end portion thereof overlies the shoulder 150. Thehead 158 bears directly on the cam end 162. Considering this position ofthe locking strip, it will be apparent that the impact or blow hasdriven the bottom tray further up with respect to the case body and,otherwise stated, the case body has been forced further down within thearea defined by the upstanding flange 154 and the lower end of the bodyhas traveled further through the restricted passage defined by the areawithin or internal diameter of the hook 156.

The heel 157 has moved inwardly relative to the shoulder the heel 157sliding on the gutter 148 and the rounded head 158 of the crease hinge140 has moved down and substantially around the cam edge 162 on the hook156. Thus, under the force of the impact or impacts, the locking strip,receiving the force of the impact at the heel 157 has, due to theinherent resiliency of the material of the case body and locking strips,caused the lower edge 12@ to flex slightly outwardly and the strip tobow outwardly, due to the camming action or mutual sliding action of thehead 1:8 of the double wall of the locking strip and the cam end 162.The engagement of the head 158 of the locking strip with the cam end 162also produces a tendency of the locking strip to pull away from theflexing edge 120 of the side wall 112 at the stitch lines, the head 158seeking entrance beneath the cam end 162 into the recess 16) of the hook156.

The walls of the box, as seen in Figure 13, are placed by movementthrough the restricted passage and engagement with the hook underhorizontal strain, the walls ilexing or buckling inwardly. The leg 132,which is an eXtension of the wall 12 or more particularly the lower edge120, when engaging the gutter at its heel 157 and the cam end 162 at thehead 157 is placed under vertical strain and bows outwardly.

Thus, in Figures 6a and 13, it is shown that the side walls 1t) and 12and the end walls 14 and 16 will be exed inwardly, due to the fact thatthe area defined by the hook is less than the dimension of the case bodyand, as illustrated in Figure 6a, the impacting or striking of the trayon the hard surface, will cause the head 158 of the locking strip 128 tocam around the cam end 162 of the hook 156, resulting in positioning thelocking strip, as illustrated in Figure 6a, and also placing the lockingstrip under tension.

As soon as the center of the head 158 is disposed outwardly of the camend 162 and bill 157, the horizontal stress will move the lower edge 120and locking strip 128 laterally, and the vertical stress will move theleg 132 and head 158 upwardly toward nested engagement with the recess160 of the hook. This action will be produced due to the resiliency ofthe side wall and locking strip, both of which will seek their normalposition and plane. Therefore, the locking strip will move to theposition illustrated in Figure 7 where the head 158 is located in therecess 160 of the hook and the leg 132 of the locking strip and sidewall 12 have substantially returned to the normal vertical positionsparallel with the flange 154. The locking strip will, due to its ownstressing action return back to its normal position (Figure 8), wherethe head 158 is 7 in the recess and `almost in engagement with theundersurface of the hook 156 and the leg 132 of the locking strip is inengagement with the inner surface of the flange 154.

This is the final position of the locking strip with respect to thecomplementary hook 156 in so far as the automatic locking of the casebody 18 to the bottom tray 144 is concerned. At this point in theoperation, the case body is securely locked to the tray, so that thecase or carton is ready for use and articles of merchandise can beplaced within the case body and disposed on the bottoni of the bottomtray. Obviously, the weight of the articles of merchandise on the traywill cause the lange 154 to pull down until the movement is arrested bythe snug engagement of the hook with the head 158, at which point, theentire portion of the foot 130 will be disposed within the gutter 148with the free side edge thereof abutting the shoulder 150.

However, to obviate accidental dislodgement of the locking strip fromthe hook 156, a bottom insert 17e (Figures and l0) is provided and isformed from cardboard, iiberboard, or other material. The bottom insert17() is a thin rectangular sheet, which has its corners beveled as at172. r`he opposing sides of the bottom insert have flaps or extensions174 formed thereon and dened by axial crease lines 176. Similarly, theends of the insert are formed with extensions or flaps 178 and 180,which are hingedly connected to the bottom insert along the fold orscore lines 182. As seen particularly in Figure 9, the side extension orilap 174 on the bottom insert is folded upwardly from the insert anddisposed at right angles thereto, so that it can be positioned beneaththe free edge of the section 134. The extension 174 is in verticalalignment with the section 134 and forms an extension thereof so as toassist in retaining the locking strip or the edge 158 thereof in snugcontact with the underside 160 of the hook 156. Additionally, however,the bottom insert 170 holds the section 132 of the locking strip in snugengagement with the inside of the flange 154, so that the sections 132and 134 are retained in a vertical plane directly underlying the hook.The bottom insert, thus, prevents the section 132 from beingaccidentally moved laterally away from the ange 154.

In addition, the insert 170 also forces the section 136 of the lockingstrip into the gutter 14h of the bottom tray and holds it securelytherein at the edge 15).

It will be noted, as seen in Figure 2, that the inner walls or flaps and22 are disposed interiorly of the case body 18 and that the covers ortops 24 and Z6 are in closed positions, when the case body is beingattached to the bottom tray 144. However, before the bottom insert 17)is positioned in the case body, the covers 24 and 26 are opened and theinner walls 2G and 22 are swung outwardly. After the bottom insert is inplace, the inner walls Ztl and 22 are swung inwardly and, as seen inFigure ll, the free edge 184 of the inner wall 2t) bears directly on theupper surface of the bottom insert 170, so that the inner walls or flapsform a locking means to retain the bottom insert 176 in place on top ofthe bottom in the separate tray bottom 144, additionally holding downflap 130 of the locking strip in the gutter of the separate tray bottom.Thus, the inner walls 20 and 22 not only serve to rigidity the ends ofthe case body and aid in the rigidification or strengthening of the handholes but also the inner walls form a locking means for securing thebottom insert 17) in place on top of the bottom of the separate bottomtray 144.

The side and end walls of the case body return to their normal position,after the locking strip is in the position of Figure 8, as illustratedin Figure lll. In a comparison of Figures 13 and 14, the inward bucklingor flexing of the wals of the case body, during the passage of thelocking strips and lower edges of the walls past the restricted areadefined by the hooks can be appreciated.

In this regard, the cut-outs 104, 106, 163, and 112, which deiine thelower flexing edges of the walls of the case body vpermit the edges, asillustrated in Figure 6a, to bend or iiex slightly outwardly, enablingthe locking strips to bow outwardly and move around the cam end 162 ofthe Vhook and outwardly into engagement with the ange and into therecess 160 ofthe hook.

In Figure l2, another form of locking strip is illustrated, wherein thesection 134a is folded outwardly from the section 1322, so that thesection 134a engages the flange 154, with the section 132a being spacedtherefrom. In this arrangement, the extension or ap 174EL on the bottominsert 176a is disposed beneath the lower edge of the side wall 12.

In Figure l5 another form of locking arrangement between the bottom tray144 and the case body 18 is illustrated. ln this arrangement, the sidewall 12 is provided at its lower end portion with a locking protuberanceor projection 29). The protuberance may be in strip form and extendsubstantially the length of each of the walls or may be in the form of aplurality of spaced bosses. lt may be formed of the saine material asthe body and is stitched thereto. Of course, the locking protuberance230 can ybe of rigid material or resilient material, not necessarilycardboard or berboard and suitably fastened to the side walls of thecase body.

The locking protuberance includes au inner tlat wall 202 engaging theouter surface of the side wall 12 and a rounded head 204, formedcomplemental to the recess 206. An inclined or sloping bottom cammingwall 20S is formed on the .protuberance The bottom tray 144 is similar,with respect to the flange 154 and hook 156 but the bottom 208 is flatand does not have a gutter depressed from its marginal .portions.

In attaching the case body 18 to the ytray 144', the lower edges of thewall of the .body are inserted within the hook 156', causing the wallsto buckle slightly inwardly. Further pressure on the body or impactingthe tray, in the manner aforedescribed, will cause the cam wall 208 toslide .inwardly and produce a greater buckling of the walls in themanner illustrated in Figure 13. The walls will be under a strain and assoon as the projection 209 passes the bill of the hook, the horizontalstress will act to move the walls outwardly so that the head 204 will beunder the hook. The bottom insert 176 is formed with wider extensions orflaps 210, which will extend up to the head 204. The inner wall or flapwill bear at its lower edge on the bottom insert to retain it in placeand will bear on the extensions to keep them erect.

The head will be brought up into contact with the hook and finallyseated in the recess 296, when the case is loaded or may be seated bypulling straight up on the body, while holding the tray.

In addition, the projection 200 may be secured to the wall at a pointabove the lower edge 212 so that the lower edge 212 of the side wall mayengage the bottom of the tray. ln such instance, the lower end portionof the wall will function in an identical manner to the leg 132 of thelocking strips.

While the tray and its upstanding ange and hook have been illustratedand disclosed as being rigid, in the sense that the side walls andlocking strips of the case body will possess great resiliency and,therefore, produce the necessary flexing and bending action, the trayflange may possess resiliency. In such instance, the mutual slidingaction of the locking strip on the hook will cause the carton to llexinwardly and the ilange to flex outwardly in order to admit the cartonto the tray.

Also, the side walls and locking strip may be substantially rigid, withthe llange 154 possessing a considerable amount of resiliency and theflange executing all of the exing.

In the use of the carton assembled upon the tray in a completed case, asillustrated in Figure 4, the cover sections (see Figure 2) may be raisedand folded out to the open position. A separator is preferably placed inthe carton to rest upon the bottom insert 170 and to provide separatecells into which the beer bottles or other merchandise may be placed.The cover sections 24 and 26 are then returned to a closed position withthe two flaps 28 and 30 being guided together into the slots 62 and 64so as to form a reinforcing girder-like construction longitudinally ofthe center line of the case. The reinforced hand holes may then begripped to lift the case with the contents supported on the strong,nonabsorbent, bottom tray which is locked to the carton body by thecooperating locking strips and hook 156 on the ange 154. The weight ofthe merchandise, such as the beer bottles, on the bottom tray will tendto preserve the locked condition of the strips in the bottom tray hookand gutter.

It will be appreciated that the use of a metallic, plastic or otherwaterproof and non-absorbent detachable tray bottom will reinforce andstrengthen the iiberboard or cardboard case against knocks, jars andscuing, will protect the case against deterioration through moisture andwetting. The tray bottom being easily and conveniently removable andreplaceable upon a number of subsequent carton bodies will promoteeconomy in the construction, erection and maintenance of suchmerchandise cases. In this respect, the case body will be delivered tothe brewery or other establishment in a collapsed flattened condition,with the extension 34 stitched to the end wall 14. The carton is soconstructed that may be easily set up at the brewery at the time it isto be loaded with the bottle goods and attached to the bottom tray.

In removing the case body from the bottom tray, the

covers 24 and 26 are raised and swung to an out posi* tion and the innerwalls or flaps 20 and 22 are swung about the fold lines to an outposition. Thereupon, the bottom insert 170 is removed by insertingfingers into the finger holes 180 formed at the corners 172 of thebottom insert. One corner of the bottom insert is pulled inwardly awayfrom the corner of the case body and the ngers are run around theoutside of the adjacent extension or flap 174, for example, until all ofthe extensions or aps are pulled inwardly, with the bottom insert beingflexed upwardly. The bottom insert is then withdrawn. The carton is thenplaced on one side or end and the uppermost side or end wall is struckwith the ilat of the hand, close to the hook 156. Repeated blows willcause the locking strip to slide laterally away from the flange 154, theleg and edge of the wall flexing and the locking strip sliding about thecam end 162 of the hook 156. The locking strip of the struck wall isthen entirely removed and an adjacent wall is similarly treated toremove the locking strip, whereupon the case body may be tilted towithdraw the locking strips on the other walls.

Referring to Figures 16 and 16a, a modified form of a bottom insert 170is illustrated. The insert 170 is formed from cardboard, berboard, orother material and is a thin rectangular sheet which has its cornersbeveled as at 172'. The opposing sides and ends of the bottom insert, asillustrated in Figure 16a, are perpendicular to the body portion of theilat bottom insert 170. Thus, the bottom insert 170 differs from theinsert 170 (Figure in that the opposing sides and ends are not providedwith flaps or extensions, such as the extensions 174 on the bottominsert 170. The opposing sides and ends of the insert 170 abut directlyagainst the legs 132 to hold the legs in engagement with the innersurface of the flange 154. Finger holes 180 are formed in one corner ofthe insert 170', so that the insert can be removed from the tray.

In Figures 17 and 17E, a form of bottom insert 214, designed for usewith the locking strip and wall construction of Figures 18-24, isillustrated. The bottom lil insert 214 is in the form of a rectangular,at sheet, and is formed from cardboard, liberboard, or other materials.It is similar in shape to but slightly larger in size than the bottominserts and 170 and has its opposing sides and ends formed with spacedlocking tongues or lugs 216. The locking tongues 216 are formed on theopposing sides and on the opposing ends of the bottom insert 214-between the beveled corners 218 and are provided to interlock with themodified form of locking means illustrated in Figures 18-24.

ln Figure 18, a fragmentary portion of the blank, from which themodified case body 220 is formed, is illustrated. The illustrated sidewall 222 and other walls of the modified case body 226 are formedsimilar to the side walls 1) and l2 and end walls 14 and 16 of the casebody 1S.

The side wall 222 has its lower end 224, which forms the foot orhorizontal legof the lower locking section 226 separated from the lowerends 228 and 230 of the adjoining end walls by means of cut-outs 232.The cutouts 232 separate the lower ends of the walls and also define thewidth of the foot or horizontal leg 224, the width thereof being equalto the depth of the cut-outs. The vertical leg 234 of the lower lockingmeans 226 is an integral part of the wall 222 immediately above the foldline 236. Slots 238 are formed in longitudinally spaced fashion abovethe fold line 236 and are provided to receive the tongues 216 on thebottom insert 214.

A locking projection 240 is provided and consists of an elongated stripof fiberboard, cardboard or similar material, which is divided along itslongitudinal center line by the score or fold line 236 about which thesections 244 and 246 are adapted to fold. As seen in Figure 19, thesections 244 and 246 are folded about the fold line 242 and stitched asat 248 to the leg 234 of the wall 222. The outer rounded side of thefold line faces upwardly and defines a locking head 250, which iscomplemental to the locking recess 252 formed outwardly of the bill 254of the hook 256 (Figures 20-24). The hook 256 is formed on the upper endof the flange 258 on the bottom tray 260, which has a depressed gutter262 extending about the margin thereof. An upstanding shoulder 264 isformed between the gutter 262 and the bottom wall of the tray.

The method of assembling the bottom tray 260 to the carton or case bodyis illustrated in Figures 20-24. Figure 20 shows the erected case bodyand bottom tray 260 with the case body frictionally held within theconfines of the flange 258 by the bill 254 which forms a reduced areathrough which the lower portion of the walls of the case body and thelocking projections on each wall are forced to pass. The case body hasthe bottom tray 260 frictionally held on the locking projections 240, sothat the case body can be lifted by using the hand holes in the endwalls (not shown) and the bottom tray 260 will adhere to the case body.

The assembler then strikes or beats, that is impacts, the bottom trayupon a hard surface to force the case body further into the area definedby the flange 258 and the leg 234 and foot 224 and attached lockingprojections 240 assume the position illustrated in Figure 2l, aftereither one or more blows, depending upon the force of the impact.

As seen in Figure 20, the lower rounded face of the fold line 236defines a heel 268 which initially rests on the gutter 262 about midwaybetween the shoulder 264 and the flange 258. The free end 266 of thefoot 224 overlies the shoulder 264. Under the force of the blow orblows, the heel 268 slides inwardly towards the shoulder 264 and theadjoining portions of the foot 224 and leg 234 are buckled downwardlyand outwardly, the lower portion of the leg 234 spreading away from thelocking projection 240. The heel 268 not only slides inwardly but theleg 234 rolls around to elongate the foot 224.

Obviously, when the lower ends of the walls of the case body are placedwithin the contines of the hook 256, the walls are placed under ahorizontal strain and also, when the adjoining portions of the foot 224and leg 234 are rolled or llexed downwardly, the walls of the case bodyare placed under vertical strain. Thus, when the locking head 250 isforced below the bill 254 of the hook and clears the bill, thehorizontal stress forces the locking projection out against the flange258, as illustrated in Figure 22, and the vertical stress effects alifting action to raise the walls of the case body and the lockingprojections, as illustrated in Figure 23.

It will be noted, in Figure 23, that the end 266 of the foot 224- restsjust above the shoulder 264, with the head 250 slightly spaced from therecess 252 but in vertical alignment therewith. When the bottom insert214 is forced down on the bottom wall of the bottom tray 260, the foot224 is seated entirely in the gutter 262 with the free end abutting theshoulder 264 and the locking projection 240 is raised, so that the head253 snugly engages the recess 252. The tongues or lugs 216 are disposedthrough the openings 238 and underlie the inner fold section 244 of thelocking projection. The bottom insert 214, thus, locks the projectionsin place, as seen in Figure 23.

Referring more particularly to Figure 25, 272 and 274 represent creaselines, one or more of which may be made on the inner radius of the heel157, 268, to increase flexibility if desired in bending the materialinto the foot 136, 224, and in better enabling the heel to either slideinwardly on the tray bottom gutter or to roll around on the bottomgutter in response to the impacting action in driving the body and thebottom together.

The following are some of the advantages of the detachablenon-absorbent, waterproof bottom tray in the disclosed combination withthe berboard case body:

l. The case with the metal tray bottom is more easily handled and can beloaded into the trucks by means of conveyors and it can be stacked moreuniformly and particularly in stacking it in carload lots. In the oldcases with the cardboard bottoms, they become wet and uneven and have atendency to be lopsided and after they get up four or live tiers theyhave a tendency to lean over and sometimes fall.

2. Practically all of the breweries have conveyor systems whereby thecartons are opened and started over the conveyor system. On the oldcardboard bottom cases after they have been used several times thebottoms become wet from beer or from dampness, having been placed on thefloor and quite often they pick up grit and going over the conveyorbelts the lint, dirt and particles picked up fall into the conveyorsystem and necessitate considerable maintenance. The cardboard bottomafter it has been wet or damp has a tendency to peel ofi while beingconveyed on the conveyor system and particularly when there is a jam ora clogging of the cases as sometimes a case will be jammed and itnecessarily means that all of the following cases will be stopped andthe conveyor belt will continue to operate and this has a tendency totear ofi the bottom of the cases. This of course would not happen on themetal bottom case.

3. On the cl-:l type of cardboard bottom cases the cases after beingused have a tendency to become out of shape the corners open 'up andthey get rough edges and this in itself has a tendency to jam theconveyor system and quite often stop it. This of course could not happenwith the metal tray.

4. One of the main objections in the conveyor system is Where the caseis narrowed down and must pass through a very narrow channel so that thecase is set in an exact position to enable a machine which must beaccurate to remove all of the bottles from the case. This is verydi'icult with the old case because the bottoms are not uniform and varysometimes as much as 3i inch.

5. The present case used by the breweries cornes in three pieces and hasto be assembled at the breweries which means .hat they must havestitching machines and the cases are stitched after they are bent orfolded and this necessitates a great deal of storage space to saynothing of the labor required for the stitching. The new type of casewith the metal bottom, comes ltnocned down, and can be assembled readilywithout any stitching and can be assembled quickly enough so that theymay be put right on the production line thus eliminating any storagespace that was heretofore required.

Although we have disclosed herein the best forms of the inventioni-:nown tous at this time, we reserve the right to all suchmodifications and changes as may come within the scope of the followingclaims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A merchandise case comprising a bottom tray having an upstandingmarginal flange with an inturned downwardly extending hook forming abili and defining a confined locking recess outwardly of the bill, acarton body possessing some resiliency, a locking projection carriedexterierly by the lower portion of thc walls of the body, a leg carriedby the lower portion of the walls of the body below the lockingprojection and possessing somc resiliency, a laterally extending foothingedly connected to the leg and extending inwardly therefrom forcontacting the bottom of the tray, the external dimension of the lockingprojection on the carton body being greater than the area defined by thebill of the hook so that when thc carton body is seated within theflange and the body tray are forcibly moved together, the leg andlocking projection will ride inwardly on the bill of the hooi; ilexingthe walls of the carton body inwardly and placing the same underresilient horizontal stress, said hinge connection between the leg andfoot being adapted to bear against the bottom tray and fold inwardlythereon to enable the locking projection to pass about the bill and toplace the walls of the carton body under resilient vertical stress,whereupon the stresses in the walls will cause the locking projection ofthe leg to be moved outwardly and the locking projection to be movedupwardly into the recess.

2. A merchandise case according to claim l, wherein said leg is providedadjacent the hinge connection with slots and a bottom insert is providedand formed with projecting marginal tongues to fit in said slots.

3. A merchandise case according to claim l, wherein said bottom tray isformed with a marginal depressed gutter and a. shoulder bordering thegutter, said. foot bcing adapted to scat in the gutter and abut theshoulder.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

